By Glenn Freeman Friday, January 12th 2007, 12:58 GMT
Susie Stoddart believes that Gary Paffett's return to the DTM will scupper her chances of getting into a newer car for this season.
The Scot raced in a two-year-old Mercedes in 2006, and she had been hoping to get into a one-year-old car for her second season in the series.
"I have asked for a newer car, but it's not looking so good now Gary Paffett is coming back," Stoddart said on the central stage at the Autosport International show.
Stoddart had to make do with battling with the other 2004-spec cars towards the back of the field last year, and she admitted that it is difficult to challenge the newer cars at the front.
"The manufacturers are spending so much money to develop their cars that there is no way a 2004 car can compete," she said.
"The car wasn't going to get into the points last season, but it wasn't too far away."
Stoddart is happy to be in the German-based series though, and she is hoping to build a long and successful career in the championship.
"It's a young driver's dream to be in the DTM, and I'm happy to stay there," she said. "My aim is to win a DTM race, but obviously that isn't going to happen until I move up into the factory team."
